Known sourcecanonical
"Earth's noblest thing,--a woman perfected."
James Russell Lowell / Irené.
Irené.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
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"Be noble! and the nobleness that lies In other men, sleeping but never dead, Will rise in majesty to meet thine own."
James Russell Lowell / Sonnet iv.
Sonnet iv.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
Known sourcecanonical
"Great truths are portions of the soul of man; Great souls are portions of eternity."
James Russell Lowell / Sonnet vi.
Sonnet vi.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
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"To win the secret of a weed's plain heart."
James Russell Lowell / Sonnet xxv.
Sonnet xxv.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
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"Two meanings have our lightest fantasies,-- One of the flesh, and of the spirit one."
James Russell Lowell / Sonnet xxxiv. (Ed. 1844.)
Sonnet xxxiv. (Ed. 1844.)
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
Known sourcecanonical
"All thoughts that mould the age begin Deep down within the primitive soul."
James Russell Lowell / An Incident in a Railroad Car.
An Incident in a Railroad Car.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
Known sourcecanonical
"It may be glorious to write Thoughts that shall glad the two or three High souls, like those far stars that come in sight Once in a century."
James Russell Lowell / An Incident in a Railroad Car.
An Incident in a Railroad Car.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
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"No man is born into the world whose work Is not born with him. There is always work, And tools to work withal, for those who will; And blessed are the horny hands of toil."
James Russell Lowell / A Glance behind the Curtain.
A Glance behind the Curtain.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
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"They are slaves who fear to speak For the fallen and the weak. . . . . . They are slaves who dare not be In the right with two or three."
James Russell Lowell / Stanzas on Freedom.
Stanzas on Freedom.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
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"Endurance is the crowning quality, And patience all the passion of great hearts."
James Russell Lowell / Columbus.
Columbus.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
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"One day with life and heart Is more than time enough to find a world."
James Russell Lowell / Columbus.
Columbus.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
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"Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide, In the strife of Truth with Falsehood, for the good or evil side; Some great cause, God's new Messiah offering each the bloom or blight, Parts the goats upon the left hand, and the sheep upon the right; And the choice goes by forever 'twixt that darkness and that light."
James Russell Lowell / The Present Crisis.
The Present Crisis.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
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"Truth forever on the scaffold, Wrong forever on the throne."
James Russell Lowell / The Present Crisis.
The Present Crisis.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
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"Then to side with Truth is noble when we share her wretched crust, Ere her cause bring fame and profit, and 't is prosperous to be just; Then it is the brave man chooses, while the coward stands aside, Doubting in his abject spirit, till his Lord is crucified."
James Russell Lowell / The Present Crisis.
The Present Crisis.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
Known sourcecanonical
"Before man made us citizens, great Nature made us men."
James Russell Lowell / On the Capture of Fugitive Slaves near Washington.
On the Capture of Fugitive Slaves near Washington.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
Known sourcecanonical
"Dear common flower, that grow'st beside the way, Fringing the dusty road with harmless gold."
James Russell Lowell / To the Dandelion.
To the Dandelion.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
Known sourcecanonical
"Yet it lies in my little one's cradle, And sits in my little one's chair, And the light of the heaven she 's gone to Transfigures its golden hair."
James Russell Lowell / The Changeling.
The Changeling.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
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"The thing we long for, that we are For one transcendent moment."
James Russell Lowell / Longing.
Longing.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
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"She doeth little kindnesses Which most leave undone, or despise."
James Russell Lowell / My Love. iv.
My Love. iv.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
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"Not only around our infancy Doth heaven with all its splendors lie; Daily, with souls that cringe and plot, We Sinais climb and know it not."
James Russell Lowell / The Vision of Sir Launfal. Prelude to Part First.
The Vision of Sir Launfal. Prelude to Part First.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
Known sourcecanonical
"'T is heaven alone that is given away; 'T is only God may be had for the asking."
James Russell Lowell / The Vision of Sir Launfal. Prelude to Part First.
The Vision of Sir Launfal. Prelude to Part First.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
Known sourcecanonical
"And what is so rare as a day in June? Then, if ever, come perfect days; Then Heaven tries the earth if it be in tune, And over it softly her warm ear lays."
James Russell Lowell / The Vision of Sir Launfal. Prelude to Part First.
The Vision of Sir Launfal. Prelude to Part First.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
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"Now the heart is so full that a drop overfills it; We are happy now because God wills it."
James Russell Lowell / The Vision of Sir Launfal. Prelude to Part First.
The Vision of Sir Launfal. Prelude to Part First.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
Known sourcecanonical
"Joy comes, grief goes, we know not how."
James Russell Lowell / The Vision of Sir Launfal. Prelude to Part First.
The Vision of Sir Launfal. Prelude to Part First.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
Known sourcecanonical
"Who gives himself with his alms feeds three,-- Himself, his hungering neighbor, and me."
James Russell Lowell / The Vision of Sir Launfal. Part Second. viii.
The Vision of Sir Launfal. Part Second. viii.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
Known sourcecanonical
"There comes Emerson first, whose rich words, every one, Are like gold nails in temples to hang trophies on."
James Russell Lowell / A Fable for Critics.
A Fable for Critics.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
Known sourcecanonical
"Nature fits all her children with something to do."
James Russell Lowell / A Fable for Critics.
A Fable for Critics.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
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"Ez fer war, I call it murder,-- There you hev it plain an' flat; I don't want to go no furder Than my Testyment fer that. . . . . . An' you 've gut to git up airly Ef you want to take in God."
James Russell Lowell / The Biglow Papers. First Series. No. i.
The Biglow Papers. First Series. No. i.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
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"Laborin' man an' laborin' woman Hev one glory an' one shame; Ev'y thin' thet 's done inhuman Injers all on 'em the same."
James Russell Lowell / The Biglow Papers. First Series. No. i.
The Biglow Papers. First Series. No. i.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
Known sourcecanonical
"This goin' ware glory waits ye haint one agreeable feetur."
James Russell Lowell / The Biglow Papers. First Series. No. ii.
The Biglow Papers. First Series. No. ii.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
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"Gineral C. is a dreffle smart man; He 's ben on all sides thet give places or pelf; But consistency still wuz a part of his plan,-- He 's ben true to one party, an' thet is himself."
James Russell Lowell / The Biglow Papers. First Series. No. ii.
The Biglow Papers. First Series. No. ii.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
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"We kind o' thought Christ went agin war an' pillage."
James Russell Lowell / The Biglow Papers. First Series. No. iii.
The Biglow Papers. First Series. No. iii.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
Known sourcecanonical
"But John P. Robinson, he Sez they did n't know everythin' down in Judee."
James Russell Lowell / The Biglow Papers. First Series. No. iii.
The Biglow Papers. First Series. No. iii.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
Known sourcecanonical
"I don't believe in princerple, But oh I du in interest."
James Russell Lowell / The Biglow Papers. First Series. No. vi.
The Biglow Papers. First Series. No. vi.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
Known sourcecanonical
"Of my merit On thet pint you yourself may jedge; All is, I never drink no sperit, Nor I haint never signed no pledge."
James Russell Lowell / The Biglow Papers. First Series. No. vii.
The Biglow Papers. First Series. No. vii.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
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"Ez to my princerples, I glory In hevin' nothin' o' the sort."
James Russell Lowell / The Biglow Papers. First Series. No. vii.
The Biglow Papers. First Series. No. vii.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
Known sourcecanonical
"Zekle crep' up quite unbeknown An' peeked in thru' the winder, An' there sot Huldy all alone, 'Ith no one nigh to hender."
James Russell Lowell / The Biglow Papers. Second Series. The Courtin'.
The Biglow Papers. Second Series. The Courtin'.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
Known sourcecanonical
"The very room, coz she was in, Seemed warm from floor to ceilin'."
James Russell Lowell / The Biglow Papers. Second Series. The Courtin'.
The Biglow Papers. Second Series. The Courtin'.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
Known sourcecanonical
"'T was kin' o' kingdom-come to look On sech a blessed cretur."
James Russell Lowell / The Biglow Papers. Second Series. The Courtin'.
The Biglow Papers. Second Series. The Courtin'.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
Known sourcecanonical
"His heart kep' goin' pity-pat, But hern went pity-Zekle."
James Russell Lowell / The Biglow Papers. Second Series. The Courtin'.
The Biglow Papers. Second Series. The Courtin'.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
Known sourcecanonical
"All kin' o' smily round the lips, An' teary round the lashes."
James Russell Lowell / The Biglow Papers. Second Series. The Courtin'.
The Biglow Papers. Second Series. The Courtin'.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
Known sourcecanonical
"Like streams that keep a summer mind Snow-hid in Jenooary."
James Russell Lowell / The Biglow Papers. Second Series. The Courtin'.
The Biglow Papers. Second Series. The Courtin'.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
Known sourcecanonical
"Our Pilgrim stock wuz pithed with hardihood."
James Russell Lowell / The Biglow Papers. Second Series. No. vi.
The Biglow Papers. Second Series. No. vi.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
Known sourcecanonical
"Soft-heartedness, in times like these, Shows sof'ness in the upper story."
James Russell Lowell / The Biglow Papers. Second Series. No. vii.
The Biglow Papers. Second Series. No. vii.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
Known sourcecanonical
"Earth's biggest country 's gut her soul, An' risen up earth's greatest nation."
James Russell Lowell / The Biglow Papers. Second Series. No. vii.
The Biglow Papers. Second Series. No. vii.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
Known sourcecanonical
"Under the yaller pines I house, When sunshine makes 'em all sweet-scented, An' hear among their furry boughs The baskin' west-wind purr contented."
James Russell Lowell / The Biglow Papers. Second Series. No. x.
The Biglow Papers. Second Series. No. x.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
Known sourcecanonical
"Wut 's words to them whose faith an' truth On war's red techstone rang true metal; Who ventered life an' love an' youth For the gret prize o' death in battle?"
James Russell Lowell / The Biglow Papers. Second Series. No. x.
The Biglow Papers. Second Series. No. x.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
Known sourcecanonical
"From lower to the higher next, Not to the top, is Nature's text; And embryo Good, to reach full stature, Absorbs the Evil in its nature."
James Russell Lowell / Festina Lente. Moral.
Festina Lente. Moral.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
Known sourcecanonical
"Though old the thought and oft exprest, 'T is his at last who says it best."
James Russell Lowell / For an Autograph.
For an Autograph.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain
Known sourcecanonical
"Nature, they say, doth dote, And cannot make a man Save on some worn-out plan, Repeating us by rote."
James Russell Lowell / Ode at the Harvard Commemoration, July 21, 1865.
Ode at the Harvard Commemoration, July 21, 1865.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 9th ed. (Little, Brown, 1905), public domain